SC refers OMC case back to AP High Court

NEW DELHI, Jan 15: After hearing a host of senior counsel, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Andhra Pradesh Government to file its counter in the Obulapuram mining case within a week. The  Supreme Court also instructed Andhra Pradesh High Court to dispose off  the matter within four weeks thereafter.In another development, the Supreme Court extended the stay on the mining and ore transportation operations of the Obulapuram Mining Company, owned by Karnataka Tourism Minister G Janardhan Reddy.

These directions were issued  by a bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, Justice Deepak Verma and Justice B S Chauhan.The  High  Court of Andhra Pradesh will take up  the matter on January 18.Senior counsel PP Rao, defending OMC  contended that mining operations  should be permitted based on the report of Central Empowered Committee (CEC). Countering the  Rao’s contention senior counsel Altaf Ahmed said mining cannot go on because there is no demarcation in the area.Aappearing for the state of Andhra Pradesh T V Ratnam, said now the matter should be finally heard. He offered to file the counter affidavit in a week’s time and requested the Bench to permit the state to go ahead with the demarcation exercise